The Octavia confirms its place as a class-leading hatchback purely by the amount of space on offer, with a boot that’s longer and far more useable than almost any of its rivals. It’s also incredibly well priced for a car with such substance and gets plenty of equipment regardless of which trim you choose. For a practical, useable and enjoyable hatchback, it’s hard to beat the Octavia.

Trim:

Even this entry-level trim comes with air conditioning, alloy wheels, an 8.0in touchscreen, SmartLink featuring Apple CarPlay and MirrorLink, Bluetooth, a DAB radio and a USB socket. There are a few key options you can’t be added to S, though, so we reckon it’s worth stepping up to SE.

Engine:

The best-value engine in the range for low-mileage drivers. Doesn’t feel strained at all, despite the car’s size. It’s refined, easy to drive smoothly, feels punchy enough around town and manages adequately on the motorway. All this and it’s cheap, too.